Abrading tool



May 1, 1955 E. W. HAGADORN 2,743,558

ABRADING TOOL Filed Aug. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3l fA7/l!!llll/llllllllllllllll/lll/llllllll/Il//l//l/Ill//l/llllllll//llll/lllllllllllIl/l/llllllllllllIlllII/QQ@` 'Q -Iig i IN1/EN TOR. @www M5( #Hmmm/v @LA W .W 55mm May 1, 1956 E. w. HAGADORN ABRADING TOOL.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 195At JNVENTOR. [www M #man oww United States Patent ABRADING TOOL Elmore W. Hagedorn, Solvay, N. Y., assigner to Finishiuc Laboratories, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation or New York Application August 26, 1954, Serial No. 452,343

Claims. (Cl. 51m-IS7) This invention relates generally to abrading tools, and more specifically to a manually operated abrading tool which is particularly adapted for use in connection with furniture refinishing and cabinet work.

In furniture and woodwork repair and refinishing, it is frequently necessary to fill gouges, scratches and the like in the surface of the wood with a suitable wood filler which after it hardens, must be cut down to the level of the surrounding surface and smoothed and polished. The cutting and smoothing operation is usually carried out by means of an abrasive paper either with or without some kind of added fluid lubricant. The purpose of the lubricant is to prevent the abrasive material from leaving scratches on the work, and particularly on the surrounding finish, and for `this reason professional refnishers usually prefer to `use a lubricant with the abrasive at least in the final stages of the smoothing and polishing operation.

in conventional practice, the abrasive paper is wrapped around or otherwise mounted on a block of wood, felt or the like, and lubricant from a separate source is deposited either on the work surface or directly on the abrasive material. When the work surface is large, the abrading operation must he interrupted from time to time to replenish the supply of lubricant, or else an excessive amount of lubricant must be deposited initially. in either case., `time or material is wasted with the result that the operation is not performed in the most eicient possible manner.

The present invention contemplates a simpler and more elhcient means for performing the abrading operation and, to this end, provides an abrading tool having a built in lubricant reservoir whereby controlled amounts of lubricant are automatically fed to the abrasive material as the tool is applied to the work surface. In addition, the tool or device is provided with improved means for advancing a strip of abrasive material supported by the too'l along the working edge of the latter so that fresh surfaces of the strip can be periodically presented to the work.

With the foregoing and other considerations in View, it is the primary object of the invention to provide a simple and yet highly efficient abrading tool.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an abrading tool having a` lubricant reservoir and means to. automatically deliver `controlled amounts of fluid lubricant from the reservoir to abrasive material supported by the tool.

Afurther important object of theinvention is to provide` an abrading tool having an improvedmeans to support an abrasive material and to advance it progressively along the working edge of the tool.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a hand .operated abrading toolwhich is comfortable to grip` and easy to manipulate,

Still another object of the invention is to provide an abrading tool which is strong and durable, compact and lightweight, and yet is of relatively simple, inexpensive construction.

ICC

A more specific object of the invention. is to provide an abrading tool including a lubricant reservoir wherein lubricant may be dispensed from the reservoir by the i application of pressure to the top of the tool casing.

A further specic object of the invention is to provide an abrading tool which, if desired, can be used in the manner of a conventional dry sanding block without delivering fluid lubricant to the abrasive material.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the reference numbers represent corresponding parts in all the views.

.in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an abrading tool embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the abrading tool shown in Figure l;

figure 3 is a left end elevation of the abrading tool shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a right end elevation of the abrading tool shown in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary Vertical section through the abrading tool showing a slightly modified structure for conducting lubricant to the abrasive material;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the abrading tool shown in Figure l, taken along line 6 6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a vertical section corresponding to that of Figure 6, showing a modified valve and valve actuating arrangement .for the lubricant reservoir in the abrading tool; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the abrading tool modified as shown in Figure 7.

i-laving reference now to the drawings, which illustrate typical embodiments of the invention for the purpose of disclosure, iti generally indicates the abrading tool cornprising a semi-resilient porous member T11, a casing 12 mounted on the upper portion of said member, and aistrip or web of abrasive material 14 engaging the lower edge of the member. Member ll is a rectangular block, Figure t', which is preferably formed of felt although other porous or fibrous materials of semi-resilient nature can also be used. The casing i2 may be formed of metal, plastic or the like and substantially encases the upper portion ofthe felt member or block il as shown. The strip or web of abrasive material M is of the conventional type comprising grains of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, or the like, mounted on a waterproof paper or cloth backing.

The casing 1?., Figures 1, 4 and 6, includes atop l5, sides if?, and ends Ztl, 2l, all of which may be formed from a single sheet of metal as shown in the drawings. Atthe right end of the casing, the end piece 2l is extended outwardly and upwardly, Figure 6, to fornrwith thecasing sides a well 22 adapted to receive a roll 24 of the abrasive strip material ffii. At the left end of the casing, theend piece 2i) is folded back upon itself and'then outwardly and downwardly to form with the casing sides a housing 2S for the take-up or wind-up means for the abrasive strip. The take-up means comprises a slotted shaft 27 rotatably mounted in aligned holes in the casing sides, and a handle 2S mounted on the shaft externally of the housing. A Cotter pin 3b or the like serves to maintain the shaft in proper position in the housing 25.

As best shown in Figure 6, a portion of the roll 2.4 of the abrasive strip i4 is led out of the well 22, across the lower edge ol' the felt block 1li and up into the housing 25 for the take-up means where the end of the strip is inserted in the slot through shaft 27. By turning` the handle 2S of the shaft the strip lli can thus be advanced along the lower edge of the felt block, feeding out of the well 22 and being taken up on the shaft. To insure close engagement of the strip with the lower edge of the block,

a roller 31 at each end of the block resiliently urges the strip into engagement with the ends thereof so that the strip is at yall times stretched tightly over the lower edge. Eachroller is formed with annulargrooves adjacent its ends which'arermountecl in aligned slots 32 in the casing sides .17, 18 so that the rollers can turn freely with the abrasive strip wheneverthe latter is advanced by the takeup means. 'Each roller is also formedwith an axial bore 34 therethrough, and a continuous spring member 35 passes through these bores and along the casing sides to resiliently urge the rollers into engagement with the strip as noted above.

Mounted within the casing 12 is a reservoir 37 for a fluid lubricant, the reservoir having its own top and bottom, sides and ends, all of which define a fluid tight enclosure. TheV ends 38, 4t) of this reservoir extend below the bottom 41 thereof, Figure 6 to form with the casing sides 17, 18 a continuous flange for encasing the upper portion of the felt block 11 as previously described. The reservoir 37 may be filled with a fluid lubricant such as water, oil or chemical through a fill hole in the side of the reservoir ,which is in alignment with a hole of equal diameter in the side 17 of the casing, these holes being threaded to receive a threaded plug 42, Figure l. The lubricant is dispensed from the reservoir into the felt block 1-1 by a valve 44, Figure 6, which coacts with a bore and metal insert tube 45 in the top of the block, the tube being flanged at its upper end.

The valve 44 coacts with an outlet hole 46 through the bottom 41 of the reservoir and comprises a headed screw 47 having a gasket 48 mounted thereon which seats against the hole inside the reservoir. The Vshank of the screw is reduced in the area of the hole and at its lower end carries a hexagonal nut 50 which bears against the inwardly turned lower end of the tube 45. A compression spring 51 is positionedbetween the nut and reservoir bottom 41 to normally hold the valve in closed position. The nut 50 is adjusted on the screw shank so that the end of the felt block 11 adjacent the valve is held in spaced relation to the bottom of the-reservoir, see Figure 6, when the valve is closed. With this construc- CII tion, the valve 44 can be opened by the application of l pressure to the top of the casing 12, since this forces the end of the felt block that Vis normally spaced from the reservoir bottom into engagement therewith and lifts the screw head and gasket 48 away from the hole 46. This, of course, permits the lubricant in the reservoir to flow down into the tube 45, past the sides of the hexagonal nut 50, and into the felt block which conducts it through its pores to the abrasive strip 14. By properly adjusting the nut 50, it is possible to control the amount of lubricant which escapes from the reservoir each time the valve Y is opened, or to render the valve completely inoperative if desired. A tube 52 may also be inserted in the felt block 11 as shown in Figure 5 to conduct the major portion of the lubricant to the feed side of the abrasive strip.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a slightly modified valve arrangement for the lubricant reservoir 37 wherein the valve, generally indicated at 54, includes a long stern or plunger S5 which passes through both the top and bottom of the reservoir. Threaded on the lower end of the plunger is an adjustable hexagonal nut 57 which supports a gasket 58, the latter being normally seated against the outlet hole 46 in the bottom of the reservoir. As in the previously described modification, the plunger is necked down in the area of the hole. A compression spring 60 encircles the plunger within the reservoir, and is positioned-between the reservoir bottom 41 and a nut 61, fixed'on the plunger, to normally maintain the valve in closed position. Above the nut 61, the plunger is Unthreaded and passes through a smooth bore in a plug 62 which is threaded into aligned holes formed in the casing and reservoir so that the latter can be filled there- 4 through. A gasket 64 supported by nut 61 normally bears against the bottom of the plug as shown.

ValveV 54 is adapted to be actuated by the application of pressure to the top of the casing as in the case of valve 44 in the first described modification, and, to this end, the casing 12 is provided with a hinged auxiliary top 65, the free end of which bears against the top of the plunger 55 as shown. Top 65 is formed with side flanges 67, 68 adapted to overlie the sides 17, 1S of the casing and at the left end ot the casing, or end farthest from the valve, these flanges are hinged to the casing sides as at 70. Thus, when pressure is exerted upon the top 65, the valve plunger 55 is pushed downwardly against the action of spring 6i) moving nut 57 and gasket S8 away from the outlet hole 46 so that lubricant can pass through the hole and past the sides of the nut 57 into the insert tube 71 positioned in a bore in the felt block 11. The lubricant then passes through the open lower end of the tube 71 into the felt block which conducts it as previously described to the abrasive strip 14. An additional ycommunicating bore 72 may also be formed in the felt block, if desired, to conduct a major portion of the lubricant driectly to the feed side of the abrasive strip 14. The top of plunger 55 is formed with a slot (not shown) so that the plunger may be adjusted relative to the nut 57 to control the amount of lubricant delivered each time the valve is opened.

AIn operation, a roll of abrasive paper or cloth of the proper grade is mounted on the tool and the reservoir is filled, orpartially filled, with the desired kind of fluid lubricant. Thereafter, the casing is grasped as one would hold an ordinary sanding block, with the palm of the handA on the top of the casing and the fingers engaging the sides thereof. The abrasive strip along the lower edge of the felt b lock is then brought into contact with the work area and the tool moved back and forth in the usual manner Vwith a slight downward pressure to effect the abrading operation. The normal downward pressure ordinarily exerted on the working stroke is sufficient to actuate the valve means in either of the disclosed embodiments of the invention, and this of course permits the lubricant to flow into the felt block and pass through the pores thereof to the abrasive strip. In actual practice, the felt block becomes almost saturated with lubricant after a few initial operations, and the further flow of fluid into the block thereafter serves to maintain the block and abrasive strip in a saturated condition so that the proper amount of slush may be provided on the work surface as is desirable in finishing operations.

When the surface of he abrasive strip becomes worn alongthe lower edge of the felt block, the handle Z8 for the take up means is simply turned one or two turns to advance the strip along the edge and present an unused portion thereof to the work. It will be understood in this connection that the abrading tool can be .used if desired without any lubricant in the manner of an ordinary dry sanding block.

This invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed are therefor to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What I clami is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a semi-resilient porous member, a casing mounted on the upper portion of said member, abrasive material supported by said casing and engaging the lower portion'of said member, and means operable upon the application of pressure to said casing to deliver fluid to said member-,the fluid passing through the pores thereof to said abrasive material to lubricate same. Y

2. In combination, a block of semi-resilient fibrous material, a casing mounted on the upper portionof said block, a iluid reservoir in said casing, and valve means operable upon the application of pressure to said casing to permit conrtolled amounts of fluid to ow from said reservoir into said block.

3. In an abrading tool, a block of semi-resilient porous material, a casing mounted on said block, a strip of abrasive material supported by said casing and extending along one edge of said block, a reservoir for fluid material in said casing, and means associated with said casing to permit said fluid material to iiow into said block, the iluid passing through the pores of the block to the abrasive strip along one edge thereof to lubricate same.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 together with means to move said abrasive strip along the edge of said block.

5. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said means to permit the iluid material to iiow into the block is actu ated by applying pressure to the top of the casing when said block is resting upon a solid surface.

6. In an abrading tool, a block of semi-resilient porous material, a casing mounted on the upper portion of said block, said casing having a well at one end adapted to receive a roll of abrasive material, take-up means for the abrasive material at the other end of said casing, a portion of said roll of abrasive material being adapted to be led out of said well and along the lower edge of said block and then engaged with said take-up means whereupon the latter may be actuated to progressively advance the abrasive material along the edge of the block, resilient means connected with said casing to hold said abrasive material in close engagement with the lower edge of said block, a iiuid reservoir in said casing, and means to deliver controlled amounts of uid from said reservoir into said block, the uid passing through the pores of the block to the abrasive material along the lower edge thereof to lubricate same.

7. In an abrading tool, a felt block, a casing adapted to enclose the upper portion of said block, a strip of abrasive material supported by said casing and extending along the lower edge of said block, means to progressively advance said strip along said lower edge, a reservoir in said casing above said block adapted to contain a uid lubricant, and valve means associated with said reservoir to permit the lubricant to flow therefrom into said block, the lubricant being conducted by the block to the abrasive strip along the lower edge thereof, said valve means being actuated by the application of pressure to the top of the casing when said block is resting upon a work surface.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein said valve means bears resiliently against said block to normally hold one end thereof in spaced relation to the bottom of said casing, said valve means being actuated when the end of the block spaced from the casing bottom and the bottom are brought into engagement by the application of pressure to the top of the casing.

9. A device as deiined in claim 7 together with a hinged top for said casing pivotally secured adjacent one end to the casing, said valve means bearing resiliently against the free end of said top to normally hold it in spaced relation to the casing, said valve means being actuated when said free end and casing are brought into engagement by the application of pressure to the top.

10. In an abrading tool,` a block of semi-resilient porous material, abrasive material positioned over a portion of said block, a fluid reservoir having a normally closed outlet, and means operable when said abrading tool is actuated to open said outlet to permit controlled amounts of fluid to ow from said reservoir into said block, the uid passing through the pores of the block to said abrasive material.

References Cited in the le of this patent p UNITED STATES PATENTS 817,013 Spence et al Apr. 3, 1906 947,023 Nichols Jan. 18, 1910 1,737,135 Windfeldt Nov. 26, 1929 2,429,550 Hein Oct. 21, 1947 

